Kimmie Dee

There is absolutely no point is trying to convey the hilarity that just ensued at today’s panel “I Write, I Produce, Therefore I am.” Panelists Laura Kightlinger (SNL), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, Night at the Museum 2), Robert Ben Garant (Reno 911, Balls of Fury), Linwood Boomer (Malcolm in the Middle), Rodney Barnes (Boondocks, Everybody Hates Chris) took their seats and all hell broke loose.

For starters, Executive Director Jeannie Roshar moderated the panel and when she asked, “Could someone please shut the theater door?” Thomas Lennon jumped off his seat, ran, shut the door and upon returning said, “I fucking handled that shit fast,” and we were off!

Rapid fire answers from comic minds pelted every question that was raised. For example, Cedric Yarbrough got his job on Reno 911 because he did a bit where he stuck a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and started singing “The Touch, The Feel..” like Aaron Neville. And speaking of Reno 911, the initial concept was specifically designed for Fox Network to have a parody about cops after the Fox show, “Cops.” After Fox decided to pass, the writers threw out the scripts, put together a collection of improv actors and the rest is history. Do check out the “Waiting For Godot” episode.

Next question, where did you get your start? Linwood Boomer is now retired after an amazing career, but his early acting career has come back to virally bite him in the ass when his son found a clip of him running in slow motion in a field of daisies and posted it on YouTube.com. Side note, he hates his son.

Rodney Barnes’ experience was slightly different. He’d met Damon Wayans who said, “Bears don’t tell jokes in the circus,” and hired him to write jokes. After some time writing jokes, Wayans said he believed in Barnes and told him he had to move to Los Angeles, then offered him a job watching his kids for $1,000 a week. When Barnes got to Barstow, CA, asshole of the world, believe me, he called Wayans who apparently changed his phone number. Barnes lived in his car for the next eight months and four years later, he ran into Damon Wayans. “I think he recognized me,” a man who stands at least 6’5”, he’s not easily missed. He was hired to write punch up on “My Wife and Kids,” for one day and lasted five years.

Some closing industry words of wisdom were don’t polish forever, don’t sit around and think about it, talk about it or worry about it, just do it! Just sit down and write, write, write!